Jmu Coach Decides To Resign Post

November 27, 1990|By From staff reports

James Madison football coach Joe Purzycki resigned Monday and will be reassigned to other duties within the athletic department, the school announced.

Purzycki's resignation came after a week of soul searching and a meeting Sunday with JMU athletic director Dean Ehlers. Both said the agreement was mutually acceptable and in the best interest of the program.

"After objective consideration over a week I decided that it was in the best interest of all parties that I step aside," Purzycki said at a press conference Monday.

Purzycki, 43, has been head coach at JMU for six years and compiled a 34-30-2 record. The Dukes finished 5-6 in 1990 and have had only one winning season since earning a trip to the Division I-AA playoffs in 1987.

Though Purzycki's current contract runs until Jan. 31, 1992, speculation abounded that JMU had to win this year in order for him to keep his job.

"I looked back and looked at the pressure of a do-or-die year on the people around you," Purzycki said. "There's incredible pressure on young people, who come in here for an education, and then you have all this garbage talk we discuss nationally on the welfare of the student-athlete ... and at the end of the year you have a group of players being interviewed about the future of their coach.

"I think the whole thing is immoral," he said. "I don't think those players should have to go through another year of that.

"Going under the supposition that there would be a death watch again next year, I asked is the chemistry right to continue? Is the chemistry right for everyone? And the answer was a resounding no."

Ehlers was unavailable for comment Monday.

A search committee has been formed to name a replacement for Purzycki. None of Purzycki's staff will be retained.

In his new position, Purzycki will report directly to Ehlers and will handle a number of duties within the athletic department.

Purzycki came to JMU in 1984 after four seasons as head coach at Delaware State, where he compiled a 21-21-1 record.

He was an honorable-mention All-American defensive back at Delaware and was an assistant for three years at Deleware.